No One Will Rent To Us HELP!!!! (apartment complex, leasing agent)

[Drucilla05]

My fiance has a criminal background. Its suppose to include two misdemeanors, the last one was back around July 2011. The problem is that mostly everywhere we go no apartment complex will take her because of her criminal background its even starting to affect her finding a job. Is there anything I can do so we can find a new place to stay because our current lease ends in November. Please help. Thank You.

[Drucilla05]

I didn't ask for your rude*** comments I asked for help. Yes, she committed the crimes and paid her dues to society. Everyone makes mistakes and she has turned her life around. You act like your a saint. Just because you haven't been to jail doesn't mean you haven't done other bad things in your life. Before you make comments about other people make sure you haven't done anything wrong yourself which everyone has done.

[TexasRedneck]

It's a challenge - which means that you need to plan for it further in advance. At this point, either extend the current lease or talk to a Realtor that will "go to bat" for you with prospective landlords. And of course it's going to affect employment - so many folks have been sued for having hired someone with a criminal background that turned around and did something wrong again that most are reluctant to take the risk. Can't blame them for that.

Try finding someplace that doesn't require you to go into someone's home, or have access to their personal information/property. It'll be non-traditional type of work - but sometimes that's half the fun! Places like salvage yards, etc., will often be a potential place to get a job......

[Azure110]

Originally Posted by Drucilla05

My fiance has a criminal background. Its suppose to include two misdemeanors, the last one was back around July 2011. The problem is that mostly everywhere we go no apartment complex will take her because of her criminal background its even starting to affect her finding a job. Is there anything I can do so we can find a new place to stay because our current lease ends in November. Please help. Thank You.

May I ask why you are now renewing your current lease if you are having a such hard time finding another place?

[clarksvillemom]

I put some links on another post about some orgs that might be able to help/Fair Housing. Also, churches can be good leads

[butterfly57]

Originally Posted by Drucilla05

My fiance has a criminal background. Its suppose to include two misdemeanors, the last one was back around July 2011. The problem is that mostly everywhere we go no apartment complex will take her because of her criminal background its even starting to affect her finding a job. Is there anything I can do so we can find a new place to stay because our current lease ends in November. Please help. Thank You.

Over the years of renting in either homes or apartments, my husband and I have discovered that apartment complexes seem to be the worst for turning people down due to background and credit checks, or they will charge a higher security deposit if you are accepted. We have found that some property management companies that rent houses seem to go easier on you. Their top concern is evictions in your past (at least the ones we've dealt with). While we currently are living in an apartment it is a well known fact among the residents, that some of the people in here have criminal histories. How they got in is a mystery...or is it? Apparently they had other people with clean background and credit checks get on the leases and then move in whomever with them or let them have the apartment. We were even told by the leasing agent, due to my low credit score that if we got turned down, he would submit the application with just with my husband on it in order to get us in. I felt very uncomfortable doing that since this would have restricted me from making my presence known to the front office and I don't want to live that way. Thankfully we got in without issues but apparently there are ways around it.

I would recommend being up front when you are inquiring about renting, mentioning that the background check for your fiance' has a history going back 4 years and will come back negative. Also, try some property management companies, they do have smaller homes at times cheaper than apartments. Besides the background check, apartment complexes look at your job and your credit. Apparently your fiance' doesn't have income to put on the application either, but they will run her credit, so this could also be another negative.

Of course the most obvious choice is to stay where you currently are renting (if you can continue to afford it and it is not an issue of safety) at least until your fiance' can find a job and more time has passed between her and her criminal background. Good luck!

[EntropyGuardian]

1. Go to an apartment finder service (they are free)

2. Tell them about your difficulties.

3. They'll call around or already know certain complexes that will look the other way in regards to having criminals live in the complex.

The end.

[John911]

If she pops up on a sex offender list, you might as well throw in the towel. It would be counter intuitive for a property management company to allow a registered sex offender on their properties. The mere stigma turns of other potential renters, regardless of the offense. Especially those with kids.

[KM1174]

go to an apartment locator, tell them you (or whoever) has a history of whatever, they know what places will work with out.

when in doubt, apartment locator.

[fritos56]

You can try an apartment locator.You can also ask for help from the Society of St.Vincent de Paul,Salvation Army, SAMMinistreies, etc.They may also be able to help out.